Cumulative seal card game system and method

ABSTRACT

A cumulative game system includes a case set of play tickets having a plurality of deal sets of play tickets. Each of the plurality of deal sets of tickets contribute to a cumulative prize pool board. Each of the plurality of deal sets of tickets includes a plurality of play tickets. The play tickets include deal identifier indicia imprinted on the play ticket to identify a deal set of which the play ticket is a member. Each play ticket is a member of only one deal set. The play tickets include at least one concealed game symbol imprinted on the play ticket. A predetermined number of play tickets in each of the deal sets of tickets has at least one concealed winning game symbol that wins or is eligible to win at least one of an instant award, a first award, and a cumulative award. A cumulative award is awarded from the cumulative prize pool board.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to gaming systems. More particularly,the invention relates to a seal card game system that provides acumulative winner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games of chance continue to be popular. Certain games of chance, such asinstant ticket games or pull tab tickets games, have gained popularitywith social, fraternal, or church organizations and state or provinciallotteries seeking to raise funds. Commercial bingo halls also featuresimilar games of chance. Game operators in these facilities have amultitude of game systems from which to choose. Some new game systemsenjoy success, while others fail to be commercially viable. The abilityof a game system to generate player excitement and prolonged interestdetermines commercial success of the game system.

Some known games feature a deal set of pull tab play tickets, forexample, one hundred (100) individual tickets that include a deal set,that are individually sold to players for a fee. Each player breaks openone or more pull tabs of the ticket to reveal game symbols imprinted onthe ticket. Some game systems feature instant winnings based on theimprinted game symbol or symbols while others feature qualifyingsymbols, identifying eligibility to compete in an award level associatedwith a particular deal set. After all tickets in the deal set are sold,players holding a ticket eligible for the deal set award are recorded ona deal seal card. A game operator opens a pull tab on the deal seal cardto reveal a deal set winner. A deal set winner may receive cash, prizes,or additional tickets.

Some known game systems feature a case award in addition to a dealaward. In this type of game system, a case set of tickets are sold by anoperator. The case set includes a plurality of deal sets of tickets, forexample, ten (10) deal sets in one case with each deal set having apredetermined number of tickets, for example, one hundred (100) tickets.After all tickets in the case are sold and each of the deal set winnersis determined, some or all of the deal winners further compete forhigher level awards, for example, a case award. This is commonlyreferred to as a progressive scheme or progressive game system. That is,tickets qualifying for a case award must first have been deal set awardwinners. Progressive game systems of this type typically retain theinterest of individual deal set winners but often at the expense ofplayers not holding deal set winning tickets.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,916 to Brown discloses a seal card game systemproviding multiple levels of non-progressive play. The game systemawards a master case award to a winning ticket not among the populationof individual deal winning tickets. A winning ticket of each deal setdoes not qualify for the master case award level. The game featuressegregated deal sets, each set containing pull tab tickets. Each dealset is segregated by deal identifier indicia. A deal identifier indiciamay be a selected color that is imprinted on each of the playing ticketscomprising a deal set. The play tickets may be serialized by deal or bycase for security. A seal card may include a serialization of eachticket associated with the case. The non-progression scheme benefits agame operator by retaining interest and participation of a higherpopulation of players throughout the multiple deal play.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,737 to Fienberg discloses a game system withmulti-level playing. One embodiment of the game features play ticketsrepresenting a first level of play. Play tickets with numbers ending in“13” represent a second level of play. A winning ticket from the secondlevel of play is eligible to play in a third level for additionalwinnings in a “Bonus Section.” A second embodiment features a fourthplaying level called a “Jackpot Section.”

U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,524 to Nannicola discloses an instant ticket gamesystem utilizing a master game seal card. Players with hold ticketsending in “13” qualify for play in a three-level modified progressionscheme. To initiate play at an advanced level, a seal window is openedto reveal a winner. A winning player competes to reach a concluding“Mountain Climber” level of the game. When a winning participant fails,a second hold card player becomes eligible to compete.

These and other known game systems have various drawbacks. For example,none of the above game systems or other known game systems dedicate apredetermined prize amount to a cumulative prize pool board from aplurality of deals wherein a cumulative award is awarded from thecumulative prize pool board. Some winners of known game systems areeliminated from further awards. This causes players to lose interestafter a particular point in a game or in the game entirely.

These and other drawbacks exist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the invention, a seal card game systemand method are provided that enable cumulative winners. The seal cardgame system provides at least one cumulative winner because the gamesystem is played with a plurality of deals and each of the plurality ofdeals contributes a predetermined prize amount to a cumulative prizepool board. Cumulative awards are awarded from the cumulative prize poolboard. The game system increases player interest and enthusiasm byproviding tickets that may contain multiple cumulative winners.

The game system includes a case set of play tickets having a pluralityof deal sets of play tickets. Each of the plurality of deal sets oftickets includes a plurality of play tickets. According to oneembodiment of the invention, the case set of tickets includes three (3)deal sets of tickets and each deal set of tickets includesone-thousand-eight-hundred-forty (1840) play tickets, although it is tobe understood that any number of deal sets of tickets and play ticketsmay be used. Each play ticket includes deal identifier indicia imprintedon the play ticket to identify a deal set of which the play ticket is amember. Each play ticket is a member of only one deal set. The playtickets may also include case identifier indicia that identifies a caseset of which the play ticket is a member. Each play ticket also includesat least one concealed game symbol imprinted on the play ticket. Apredetermined number of play tickets in each of the deal sets of ticketshas at least one concealed winning game symbol that earns at least oneof an instant award, a first award, and a cumulative award. Thecumulative award is awarded from the predetermined cumulative prize poolboard. First award and cumulative award identifiers may be provided onat least one first award identifying mechanism and a master cumulativeaward identifying mechanism, respectively. Preferably, each deal set oftickets includes a first award identifying mechanism and each case setof tickets includes a master cumulative award identifying mechanism.

For each deal set, at least one concealed first award identifieridentifies the winning game symbol that may win a first award and atleast one concealed cumulative award identifier identifies the winninggame symbol that wins a cumulative award. Play tickets having a winninggame symbol may earn one or more of an instant award, a first award, anda cumulative award. A plurality of play tickets from a plurality ofdeals may win a cumulative award. Thus, there may be multiple cumulativewinners.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of theinvention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodimentsof the invention that will be described below and which will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments inaddition to those described and of being practiced and carried out invarious ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a play ticket according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the play ticket shown in FIG. 1according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of a second play ticket according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of a second play ticket according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a master cumulative awardidentifying mechanism according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a first award identifying mechanismaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a method of playing the game systemaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1. illustrates a play ticket 10 according to one embodiment of theinvention. The play ticket 10 may include instant winner indicia 12,first award indicia 14, cumulative award indicia 16, and other indicia18. The instant winner indicia 12 may include identifiers or other gamesymbols that identify instant winning play tickets. For example, theinstant winner indicia 12 may identify one or more combinations of gamesymbols that earn instant awards, state that all play tickets ending in,for example, fifty-five (55) or seventy-seven (77) and that areimprinted in a particular color earn instant awards, identify prizesassociated with particular instant awards, and a number of winners foreach type of instant award.

For example, a play ticket 10 with instant winner indicia 12 mayindicate that a combination of two (2) diamond symbols and a cherrysymbol earn a one dollar ($1.00) prize and that there are one-hundred(100) such play tickets. Instant winner indicia 12 may also indicatethat all play tickets ending in seventy-seven (77) and imprinted in pinkearn a five dollar ($5.00) prize and that there are eight (8) such playtickets. The instant winner indicia 12 may also indicate that all playtickets ending in fifty-five (55) and imprinted in pink earn a tendollar ($10.00) prize and that there are two (2) such winning playtickets.

The first award indicia 14 may identify how a first award may be won.The first award indicia 14 may identify one or more game symbols orregister/hold play tickets that earn one or more first awards. The firstaward indicia 14 may indicate register/hold tickets or a number of gamesymbols that earn the first award, prizes that are awarded for the firstaward, for example, dollar amounts, tickets won, etc., and a number ofwinning play tickets 10 that are associated with each first award. Forexample, the first award indicia 14 may indicate that play ticketshaving bank symbols labeled one (1) through twenty-four (24) andregister/hold tickets ending in 13 that are imprinted in pink may winthe first award. The first award may be, for example, cash, one or moreplay tickets, a combination thereof or other prize.

The cumulative award indicia 16 may identify how a cumulative award maybe won. The cumulative award indicia 16 may indicate that there areeight (8) bank symbols labeled one (1) through twenty-four (24) and thatthese eight (8) bank symbols win instantly. Additionally, the cumulativeaward indicia 14 may indicate that bank symbols labeled one (1) throughtwenty-four (24) may earn $500, $99, $50, $49, and $20, and that thereis one (1) winning play ticket 10 for each of the $500, $99, $50, $49awards and four (4) winning play tickets 10 for the $20 award. The banksymbols that identify which award has been won for a particular banksymbol may be provided on a master cumulative award identifyingmechanism described in detail below.

Other indicia 18 may be any other desired indicia. For example, theother indicia may be a name of a game system, a price of purchase forthe game system, copyright information or any other desired information.

According to one embodiment of the invention, cumulative award winnersand first award winners may also be eligible for a bonus award. Thebonus award may be in addition to an earned cumulative award or anearned first award. The bonus award may be identified on an awardidentifier described in detail below.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear or bottom view of the play ticket 10illustrated in FIG. 1. A rear (or bottom) of a play ticket 10 includesone or more game symbol areas 20 a-20 e. The game symbol areas 20 a-20 einclude concealed game symbols. Each game area 20 a-20 e may include oneor more game symbols. The game symbols may be concealed using, forexample, a pull tab, scratch-off material or other mechanism.Preferably, the pull tabs are perforated along three (3) sides such thatwhen the tab is pulled, the tab remains attached to the play ticket 10,although other embodiments may also be used.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate play tickets 10 according to one embodiment ofthe invention. Each of the game areas 20 a-20 e illustrate revealed gamesymbols 22 a-22 e. In FIG. 3, game symbols 22 a, 22 c, and 22 eillustrate game symbols 1800, 293, and 1560, respectively, and in FIG.4, game symbols 22 a-22 c illustrate game symbols 1800, 482, and 293,respectively. All of these game symbols are imprinted in black. Theseillustrate non-winning game symbols. In FIG. 3, game symbol 22 b is thegame symbol 1013 imprinted in a predetermined color. Game symbol 22 didentifies play ticket 10 as being a hold ticket. In FIG. 4, game symbol22 e illustrates a bank symbol labeled with a number one (1). Gamesymbol 22 d identifies play ticket 10 as being an instant winner.

Using the above example, the play ticket 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 maywin the first award because game symbol 22 b ends in thirteen (13) andis imprinted in the predetermined color. To determine whether playticket 10 has won the first award, a first award identifier is used todetermine whether a game symbol imprinted on the first award identifiermatches the game symbol 22 b on the play ticket 10. This is described infurther detail below.

The play ticket 10 illustrated in FIG. 4 may win one of the five (5)cumulative awards because bank number one (1) is one of the bankslabeled one (1) through twenty-four (24). To determine which cumulativeaward play ticket 10 shown in FIG. 4 has won, a cumulative awardidentifier is used. A matching bank symbol provided on the cumulativeaward identifier is removed to reveal a prize associated with that banksymbol. This is described in further detail below.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cumulative award identifier 50 according to oneembodiment of the invention. According to one embodiment of theinvention, the cumulative award identifier 50 is a master game board asis known in the art. The cumulative award identifier 50 may include anynumber of a plurality of game symbols 52 a-52 n. The game symbols 52a-52 n conceal an indication of whether a cumulative award has been won.The game symbols 52 a-52 n preferably are imprinted on a perforated tabthat may be pulled to reveal the indication of whether a cumulativeaward has been won although other forms of concealment may also be used.

Each game symbol 52 a-52 n is associated with a corresponding gamesymbol on one of a plurality of play tickets. A player of a play tickethaving one or more game symbols that correspond to one or more of gamesymbols 52 a-52 n removes the associated game symbol 52 a-52 n from thecumulative award identifier to reveal the cumulative award won. Theindication may be, for example, a dollar amount, a number of playtickets or other prize.

The cumulative award identifier 50 may also include other indicia 54.The other indicia 54 may be, for example, a name of a game system,instructions on how to play the game system, prizes that may be awardedor any other desired information.

FIG. 6 illustrates a first award identifying mechanism 60 according toon embodiment of the invention. According to one embodiment of theinvention, the first award identifier is a seal card as is known in theart. The first award identifying mechanism 60 may include first awardindicia 62 a, cumulative award indicia 62 b, and instant award indicia62 c, that identifies which play tickets and/or game symbols may win theinstant, first, and cumulative awards. For example, the first awardindicia 62 a may indicate that register/hold tickets ending in thirteen(13) and imprinted in a predetermined color may win the first award. Thecumulative award indicia 62 b may indicate that eight (8) bank symbolsnumbered between one (1) and twenty-four (24) may win at least one ofthe first award and the cumulative award. The instant award indicia 62 cmay indicate that a combination of two (2) diamond symbols and a cherrysymbol earn a one dollar ($1.00) prize and that there are one-hundred(100) such play tickets, all play tickets ending in seventy-seven (77)and imprinted in pink earn a five dollar ($5.00) prize and that thereare eight (8) such play tickets, and that all play tickets ending infifty-five (55) and imprinted in pink earn a ten dollar ($10.00) prizeand that there are two (2) such winning play tickets.

The first award identifying mechanism 60 may also include a prizeindicator 64 that indicates a prize that may be awarded as the firstaward. A concealing mechanism 66 may also be provided on the first awardidentifying mechanism 60. The concealing mechanism 66 conceals a gamesymbol that identifies a play ticket that has won the first award. It isto be understood that a game symbol may be a number, graphic, text orany combination thereof. The concealing mechanism 66 preferably is apull tab, however, other concealing mechanisms such as, for example,scratch-off material may also be used. Other indicia 68 may also beprovided on the first award identifier 60. The other indicia 68 may be,for example, a name of a game system, instructions on how to play thegame system, prizes that may be awarded or any other desiredinformation.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of playing a seal card game system from aplayer's perspective in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.First, a player obtains one or more play tickets, step 70. A player mayobtain play tickets by, for example, purchasing the play tickets at acharity event, convenience store or other location. A purchase price foreach play ticket may be, for example, one dollar ($1.00). The playerreveals the game symbols imprinted on a bottom or rear portion of theplay ticket, step 72. The player may reveal the game symbols by, forexample, opening a pull tab, removing scratch-off material or othermethod. The player determines whether any of the game symbols revealedare winning game symbols, step 74. The winning game symbols arepreferably identified on a top or front portion of the play ticket asdiscussed above. A determination is also made regarding whether thewinning game symbols earn an instant award, cumulative award, and/or areeligible for a first award, step 76.

Preferably, after all or a predetermined number of play tickets in adeal set of tickets have been distributed, sold or otherwise dispensed,the cumulative awards are ascertained, step 78. This may includeremoving one or more game symbols imprinted on a cumulative awardidentifier or master game board to reveal a cumulative prize. Asdiscussed above, the prizes are cumulative because each of the deal setsof tickets contributed to a cumulative prize pool board from which thecumulative prizes are awarded. Players with play tickets having a gamesymbol corresponding to one or more of the game symbols on the mastergame board win the prize revealed by that game symbol.

Preferably, after all of the play tickets in each deal set of ticketshave been distributed, a winning game symbol for the first award may beascertained, step 80. This may be performed by revealing a game symbolimprinted on a first award identifier. The winning game symbol may berevealed by, for example, opening a pull tab, removing scratch-offmaterial or other method. A determination is then made regarding whetherthe winning game symbol on the play ticket matches the winning gamesymbol on the first award identifier or the cumulative award identifier,step 82. If the winning game symbols match, then the player wins thefirst award. The first award may be earned in addition to the cumulativeaward.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, sincenumerous modifications and variations will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction and operation illustrated and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the invention.

1. A seal card game system providing cumulative play, the systemcomprising: a case set of tickets comprising a plurality of deal sets oftickets and each of the plurality of deal sets of tickets comprising aplurality of play tickets; each of the plurality of play ticketsincluding: deal identifier indicia imprinted on the plurality of playtickets to identify a deal set of which the plurality of play tickets isa member, each of the plurality of play tickets being a member of onlyone deal set; and at least one concealed game symbol imprinted on theplurality of play tickets; a predetermined number of the plurality ofplay tickets in each of the plurality of deal sets of tickets having atleast one concealed winning game symbol that earns at least one of aninstant award, a first award, and a cumulative award; wherein each ofthe plurality of deal sets of tickets contribute to a cumulative prizepool board; wherein the cumulative award is awarded from the cumulativeprize pool board.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the deal identifierindicia is a selected color imprinted on the plurality of play tickets.3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one concealed game symboland the at least one concealed winning game symbol are concealed by atleast one of a pull tab and a scratch-off material that are at leastpartially removable.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising atleast one concealed first award identifier.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein the at least one concealed first award identifier is imprintedon at least one first award identifying mechanism.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the first award identifying mechanism comprises a sealcard.
 7. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one concealed firstaward identifier is concealed by at least one of a pull tab and ascratch-off material that are at least partially removable.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising at least one concealed cumulativeaward identifier.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least oneconcealed cumulative award identifier is imprinted on a mastercumulative award identifying mechanism.
 10. The system of claim 1,wherein the deal identifier indicia comprises a predetermined colorimprinted on the plurality of play tickets.
 11. The system of claim 1,wherein the at least one concealed game symbol and the at least oneconcealed winning game symbol comprise at least one of a number,graphic, and text.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein each of theplurality of deal sets of tickets compriseone-thousand-eight-hundred-forty (1840) play tickets.
 13. The system ofclaim 1, wherein each case set of tickets comprises three (3) of thedeal sets of tickets.
 14. A method of playing a cumulative seal cardgame system comprising: providing a case set of tickets comprising aplurality of deal sets of tickets and each of the plurality of deal setsof tickets comprising a plurality of play tickets; each of the pluralityof play tickets including: deal identifier indicia imprinted on theplurality of play tickets to identify a deal set of which the pluralityof play tickets is a member, each of the plurality of play tickets beinga member of only one deal set; and at least one concealed game symbolimprinted on the plurality of play tickets; providing a predeterminednumber of the plurality of play tickets in each of the plurality of dealsets of tickets having at least one concealed winning game symbol thatearns at least one of an instant award, a first award, and a cumulativeaward; wherein at least one of the predetermined number of the pluralityof play tickets is eligible for a cumulative award; wherein the at leastone concealed winning game symbol is revealed to identify at least oneof an instant award, a first award, and a cumulative award; wherein whenthe at least one concealed winning game symbol matches at least one of aconcealed first award identifier and a concealed cumulative awardidentifier, at least one of the first award and the cumulative award isearned.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the deal identifier indiciais a selected color imprinted on the plurality of play tickets.
 16. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the at least one concealed game symbol andthe at least one concealed winning game symbol are concealed by at leastone of a pull tab and a scratch-off material that are at least partiallyremovable.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the concealed cumulativeaward identifier is imprinted on a master cumulative award identifyingmechanism.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least oneconcealed cumulative award identifier is concealed by at least one of apull tab and a scratch-off material that are at least partiallyremovable.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least oneconcealed first award identifier is imprinted on at least one firstaward identifying mechanism.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the atleast one first award identifying mechanism comprises a seal card. 21.The method of claim 14, wherein the deal identifier indicia comprises apredetermined color imprinted on the plurality of play tickets.
 22. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the at least one concealed game symbol andthe at least one concealed winning game symbol comprises at least one ofa number, graphic, and text.
 23. The method of claim 14, wherein each ofthe plurality of deal sets of tickets compriseone-thousand-eight-hundred-forty (1840) play tickets.
 24. The method ofclaim 14, wherein each case set of tickets comprises three (3) of thedeal sets of tickets.
 25. A seal card game system comprising: a deal setof tickets comprising a plurality of play tickets, wherein a first sideof the plurality of play tickets comprises a description of the sealcard game system, the plurality of play tickets including at least oneconcealed game symbol imprinted on the plurality of play tickets,wherein the at least one concealed game symbol is concealed by apartially removable pull-tab and provided on a second side of theplurality of play tickets; a predetermined number of the plurality ofplay tickets having at least one concealed winning game symbol thatearns at least one of an instant award, a first award, and a secondaward; wherein the at least one concealed winning game symbol that earnsthe instant award comprises a numeric symbol; wherein the predeterminednumber of the plurality of play tickets that earn at least one of thefirst award and the second award are eligible for a bonus award.
 26. Thesystem of claim 25, further comprising at least one concealed firstaward identifier.
 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the at least oneconcealed first award identifier is imprinted on an award identifyingcard.
 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the award identifying cardfurther comprises at least one concealed second award identifier. 29.The system of claim 27, wherein the award identifying card furthercomprises at least one concealed bonus award identifier.